In exclusive interviews with Al-Monitor at the State Department, two top State Department officials lay out US policy goals as Iraq seeks normalize and balance ties with Iran and its other neighbors while seeking to prevent a return of the Islamic State.

Mazlum Kobane, the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, talks to Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview about how the Kurds in northeastern Syria have maintained a complicated network of alliances and why the prospect of Turkish intervention in the region could trigger another war.

Erdogan’s campaign uses brutal images at election rallies of the New Zealand terrorist’s footage and hateful rhetoric, deepening the rift within Turkish society and distancing Turkey further from the West.

Richmond down Carlton 14.13 (97) to 9.10 (64)Tigers capitalise on fast start under lights at MCG 11.31am GMT Congrats Jack and Marc! #AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/MFdlTU4b47 11.05am GMT The Tigers open 2019 with a win, helped greatly by getting off to a fast start with the first five goals. But they didn’t have it all their own […]

Reptile is believed to be the last in a long line of large turtles in Hoàn KiếmA sacred giant turtle that died in Hanoi’s Hoàn Kiếm lake has been given a new lease on life by city authorities who have embalmed the beloved creature for posterity – and tourist visits.Hanoians were shocked by the death […]

While he hasn’t made it official, it appears the end of the road is imminent for the Dallas Mavericks’ influential talismanIf you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that he’s never actually uttered the words: I’m retiring. Even as his 21st season in the NBA comes to a close, Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki hasn’t […]

This robust documentary follows the fortunes of three fighters as they compete for the prestigious New York Golden GlovesHere is a forthright, uncomplicated and robustly made documentary about the New York Golden Gloves, the most prestigious amateur boxing contest in the United States, which has been sponsored by the New York Daily News since its […]

With all his belongings still in place, the late author’s New York home is open to the public. His former neighbour reflects on the invasiveness of literary tourismIf you want to see Philip Roth’s toothbrush, get in line. The Pulitzer prize-winning author’s $3.2m New York apartment hit the market a couple of weeks ago, less […]

Admission comes two days after Facebook and YouTube initially defended responses to live stream of shootingFacebook has released more details of its response to the Christchurch terrorist attack, including the extraordinary admission that it did not deal with the attacker’s live stream as quickly as it could have, because it was not reported to the […]

Gaza’s rulers, who back Israeli border protests, accused of using force against dissentHamas appears to have forcibly suppressed a rare uptick of public dissent in Gaza, beating and arresting scores of people over the past week who were demonstrating against price rises and dire living conditions across the strip.A group of activists and civil society […]

In the Canadian prime minister’s Montreal base the Lavscam imbroglio has taken a toll on previously staunch supportNicola Papadakis says he is done voting for Justin Trudeau.The decision clearly bothers the retired cleaner, 76. Like many Greeks in the Montreal neighbourhood of Park Extension, Papadakis has a nearly unshakable loyalty to Trudeau’s father, former prime […]

Theresa May has requested extension to 30 June but EU wants earlier deadlineAll today’s political developments – live updatesThe European Union is poised to take control of Britain’s exit by rejecting Theresa May’s request for a three-month delay and setting a new withdrawal date of no later than 22 May.The prime minister is seeking an […]